Thursday, June 10, 2010

Canadian Citizen Killed in Coahuila

According to the Proceso magazine website a Canadian citizen, Kenneth Charles Peter Klowak, was shot and killed by an armed group of men in the town of Allende, Coahuila located approximately 40 miles from Eagle Pass, Texas.

The incident occurred about 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 9th.

A second person who was a passenger in the same vehicle with Mr.Klowak was seriously injured.

State prosecutor Jesus Torres Charles confirmed the death of the Canadian who suffered two bullet wounds. The unidentified passenger also suffered several gunshot wounds and could be a U.S. citizen according to the prosecutor.

The encounter began after the pair left Piedras Negras en route to the town of Muzquiz.

According to a police report a group of gunmen intercepted the gold Suburban in which the victims were traveling at the junction of Highway 57 and Highway 2. The Suburban refused to stop and attempted to evade the armed group

The gunmen pursued and shot at the vehicle which crashed and overturned in Allende.

A local reporter interviewed several witnesses to the chase that stated speeds reached up to 100 miles per hour under a hail of gunfire.

After Kenneth Klowak’s Suburban crashed and overturned in Allende, one of the pursuing gunmen descended from his vehicle and in front of more than a dozen travelers on the highway walked to the wreckage and shot Mr. Klowak twice in the head.

71 comments:

Decoy gringos in Iraque the military and some private contractors often sent decoys out armed to the teeth drew an attack then killed the agressors. In Mexico it is well known not to drive around in a new vehicle with U S plates or you will get hijacked kidnapped or killed. Surley there are some Special Force poople within the Mexican Military that can pull off some sting operations to increase the elimination rate.

Thanks for the links. Please keep us posted with more details. Very sad, Piedras Negras was always the safe border town to visit. Also, why is the media (Zocalo) not covering this? Fear of retaliation?

The Canadian Govt. is much more active in both protesting and "getting the word out" on the mishandling of their citizens in Mexico. The US Govt.doesn't do much, but issue "Travel Warnings" that many Gringos don't read as they consider them "big brotherish" and it's all happening "on the border" and not Jalisco,D.F., Cancun, P.V. or San Miguel Allende. If they only read Spanish!

All the other folks got away alive, there was two more vehicals traveling togeather that got away. What they are not telling you is the Mexico Highway Patrol was right down the highway and they ran and didnt try and help them out at all.

"Thanks for the links. Please keep us posted with more details. Very sad, Piedras Negras was always the safe border town to visit. Also, why is the media (Zocalo) not covering this? Fear of retaliation?"

The Zocalo will not report anything that has to do with criminal activity involving the Drug Cartels out of fear of repercussions.

It is not safe to travel through Mexican HWYs. Piedras Negras is not safe. Stuff is not being reported regarding daily shootings, kidnappings, and executions.

Did you know that on the weekends, the local police in Piedras Negras shuts down the main thoroughfare in order for the head of the local cartel to drag race his two Lamborghinis?

It will not be, that is why we are here. Sorry to hear about your friend, the Mexican government just cares about the tourist money, they could less about your safety, that is why they try to sensor the news in Mexico.

Visiting Mexico could be very unforgiving right now, you could imagine what the people that live there go through every day.

I know the other person in the car and he is a loving family man with a wife, daughter who just got married and two beautiful son's. This henious crime has only confirmed my feelings about traveling to Mexico. I will never visit that country again and I will campaign others to stay away. It is just too dangerous. The Cartel has taken over and it is obvious they want no outsiders.

The man's name is Kenneth Charles Peter Klowak.Don't the facts get in the way of a story.Ken was a happy go lucky kind of guy and will be missed by many. Too bad the truth will never come out from one of the most corrupt countries and governments in the world.It is beyond me why anyone would want to travel there. The US should be more worried about the mexican border than anything else in the world.Pull up your socks at keep the bastards at bay!

I CAN RELATE TO THIS STORY,I HAVE RELATIVES IN MONCLOVA.ONE NIGHT ME AND MY WIFE AND KIDS WHERE HEADED OUT THERE,AND AS SOON AS WE PASTED ZARAGOSA, A BROWN CHEVY TRUCK PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAW US PASS AND TAILGATED ME. FLASHING THERE LITES FOR ME TO STOP,I THEN SPED UP AND THEY DID TO HONKING AND FLASHING LITES.MY WIFE AND KIDS GOT SCARED, BUT I SPED UP ANDGOT IN FRONT OF AN 18 WHEELER ,WHICH IN TURN SAW THAT THIS TRUCK WAS TRYING TO STOP US.THE TRUCKER NEVER LET THE PICKUP GET IN BETWEEN US.WE DROVE ALL THE WAY TO MONCLOVA WITH THE TRUCKER BEHIND US,WHEN WE GOT THERE ,WE THANKED THE TRUCKER,EVER SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVENT BEEN BACK INTO MEXICO.

All I have to say is that this just confirms Mexico is so bullshit and no one should ever go there for any reason. I had the pleasure of riding with Ken and he will be greatly missed by all. My thoughts go out to his family!!

@ "Where the hell were the cops???What did all the people who whitnessed the shooting do??? cowards ,all of them." June 13, 2010 9:36 PM

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF AK-47's AND AR-15's ARE SPRAYING BULLETS EVERYWHERE AND YOU ARE UNARMED? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COPS BUT AS FAR AS THE WITNESSES/LOCALS YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY GO THROUGH. THEY AND THEIR WHOLE FAMILY CAN BE KILLED FOR BEING A WITNESS AND SPREADING INFORMATION. THEY HAVE NO HELP AND YOU WANT TO CALL THEM COWARDS? SHAME ON YOU.

Alot of killings are government sponsered, gov dressed as civilians -- killing innocent people -- its a war alright, but they want to implement martial law in our country. Just like in the U.S. Every day there are more and more checkpoints, more crushing weight of a police state. Just getting us ready for the SSPA. North American Union here we come.

I believe there is a lot more that you guys don't understand.......this ken guy had homes in jamaica and atlanta georgia......from what i know those are two distribution points to get drugs all over the country since two major interstates intersect here.......maybe he was coming to pay some money he owed and was not pardoned

What a terrible thing to happen, but hopefully this will help people realize that for no reason should you travel to mexico, resort town or otherwise. The risk is not worth it. Hopefully it will also help convince people in Arizona that the new immigration law they implemented is for their own safety

This is just another reason not to go to Mexico, my thoughts are with Ken's family. Why isnt the Canadian Government stepping in here. There have been far too many Canadian deaths in Mexico that are unanswered. DONT GO THERE!

Ken was not involved in drugs, what a horrible thing to say since we as his family are reading all these posts. Ken was a builder of bike trails, the top in his field. He was in Mexico on a break from work. There was no reason for these people to kill him, he had done nothing. The police were sitting down the road watching it all go down and drove away not helping them at all. One of the other fellows was shot in the head twice and is in critical condition. The Canadian government has put a band on this with the media, we as his family want to know why. The Canadian Government is more concerned about the free trade with Mexico than the killing of Canadian people. Please do not write crap on here about him being involved in drugs as you don't know what your talking about. I do, my husband and his parents just got home from bringing his body back and let me tell you it wasn't an easy job.

ken did not own any properties, it was his boss who owned several properties. Ken was working in Jamacia building bike trails. He was in Mexico visiting a proerty owned by his boss. He was there to follow his passion of riding.

the cops ARE cowards if they run from their sworn duty to protect people. They're not there just to extort money from tourists.

And for that matter, why do Mexicans allow this kind of violence to continue? Saying 'the cartels are too powerful' is a weak excuse for not taking responsiblity for whats happening to your own people, by your own people, in your own country. What a horrible place.

Ken simply got caught in the crossfire of the civil war that has been going on Mexico for some time. He was not involved what so ever with drugs, for anyone to assume so because he lived in Jamaica is wrong and you are an idiot to make those assumptions.

He was happily employed in and enjoying his passion and that was mountain biking, unfortunately some greaseball cowards with automatic weapons felt otherwise.You will never hear the truth from the corrupt Mexican government as all they are concerned about is their image as a tourist destination.

I for one will never ever set foot on their god forsaken soil nor purchase a product made in that country.

The Canadian Government is failing all of us. They send our jobs to Mexico, give money to countries that kill our troops, and then tell us we should have the attitude that this causes. Wonder how the Liberals will turn this into votes? I met Ken a couple of times, I know his parents quite well, and am frustrated as any of the rest of you regarding this whole situation. So to all Canadians reading this, remember this at election time. In Canada the rhetoric will all be for votes, in Mexico for cash. Stay out of Mexico and stop buying Mexican products. This includes autosm ask your GM Ford or Chrysler dealer. CANADIAN built vehicles are listed on the web.the Gwillyville Kid

Lets' see now! Not making any judgments about Ken or anyone else who gets hurt down there but I think everyone who doesn't live in Mexico shoud wake to the fact that not all countries have the level of relative safety as say Canada or USA so don't expect anything close to what you are probably used to and be shocked and dismayed when somehthing like this happens! Try work with the premise of a modern version of the wild wild west.anything goes and you are ON Your own!The politicians are professional at talking the talk but the only walk they do is to the bank with both gov. money and anything else they get from the lobbyists and corporations. When are you all going to wake up to that fact? If they were as ethical as they claim to be there would not be the social and economic problems to the extent we have now.

I lived and worked in Mexico for several years till recently,I love the place and am sorry to say that I left because of the lawless attitudes perpetrated by people who are made up of less than human components.The area where this tragic murder was commited is in the heart of no mans land ,that is no honest man's,the country is rampant with law breakers who often carry pistols and police credentials. I am curious why they were chased into a occupied area and why the shots to the head were made..It's not your average every day Mexican car jacking..Please dont consider my curiosity in anyway motivated by wanting to know who the the man killed was or what his station in life may have been ...not interested in negitive comments of any kind,in any form,I send my heart felt sympathies to his loved ones. ...I have friends (canadian's)and ex co workers working in that and other areas close to the us border... somehow these news flashes are not reaching them in Mexico,at least.

This is sad, but not un-common. I too have worked in Mexico for close to 20 years now, and recreated there for about 40 years. But my last stint in Los Mochis this past March has made me question whether I will go back. The locals in traditionally quiet towns tell horror stories, and the parks, which were once the hub of warm evening activity are now vacant by dusk. I am sorry to hear of Ken's passing... the general wisdom is to not stop when pursued... You WILL die if you stop, the theory goes. I did not know Ken, have no knowledge... the supposition that he somehow was drug involved, even a year or two ago might have had merit, but now? No. There are lots of people killed weekly because they drove the wrong car or were in the wrong place. The old addage, "one does not need to live by the sword to die by a sword" is now paraphrased to be---one does not need to be a narco to be killed by one. RIP Ken. However senseless your Murder was, Your story will save others, as we decide not to go into harms way.

you people that dont go down to mexico but shoot your mouths off about how hard done by the people are down there are dont know dick!why dont u all go live there too;ourprime minister is a gutless wonder and should be sent there to live too...

I am so not surprised by any of this--from a tragic death to our gov't's lack of response. Years ago filmmaker Robert Rodriguez used Zaragosa and Coahuila in his movie Desperado. While a fictional story it was no accident for him to use those locations as examples of corruption and murder.Are people so naive as to think our brand of politican is any different from other country's? All politicians are cut from the same cloth and worship at the same altar of commerce. Canada is no different in that regard.

I would never go to Mexico. We were in Cozumel on a cruise last December and took a taxi downtown. I was uncomfortable the whole time we were there in the downtown area. They watched us like hawks and I was trying to find a department store to buy a strapless bra, and some guy comes up and asks if he could me. I asked him where the store was and he led us there, but then stuck out his hand for a payoff. I gave him a few dollars, but never again. If we go on any more cruises, I will not get off the ship at Cozumel.

It is very sad, I am from Mexico and from that state, Coahuila, and my husband who is canadian and our sons ( canadian, too), recently went for a special family event down there. I can tell you, as a mexican and a permanent resident and with my beloved ones down there and here, that MEXICO IS NOT SAFE ANYMORE, it is very sad and it breaks our hearts, but it is true. I do not feel offended when they say so on the local or international news, because I saw it, and I felt it, there are gunshots in the middle of the streets, guys with AK 47 and grenades and bazookas and lots of robberies and they just come and kill people everywhere, even innocent kids and persons that are not involved in their war drug and unfortunately are around these places when they are fighting for their territory. Our politicians down there DO NOT DO ANYTHING, including Calderon, they just talk and talk, police are corrupted or, otherwise, the ones that are honest are murdered or threatened, my friends kids are terrified thinking about these drug wars and the gunshots and murders, and crimes ARE NOT PUNISHED, there are lots of corruption and impunity. To tell you the truth, after living more than 30 years of my life down there and having lots of loved ones there, MEXICO IS NOT SAFE ANYMORE. Canadians and people from other countries can be a big target for these criminals because they think they have dollars and their families can pay ransome if they kidnapped them. It is super sad, but it is true. Years and years of corruption and impunity are taking their toll now in our poor Mexico, and unfortunately good people and families from there and other parts of the world are suffering deeply.

P.S. Somebody say Mr Ken should have stopped. I do not know if that will change the situation for him, unfortunately ( our deepest simpathy for his Family) because these criminals do not have a heart or a soul. They do not have mercy and are dangerous and unpredictable. Shame on our mexican politicians, including Calderon, and all these criminals that are destroying our country. May God have mercy of our poor Mexico.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ken and his family and I am outraged by the behaviour of these lawless,corrupt,immoral SOBs in Mexico!!

I also wonder, with all the anti-illegal immigration (rightly so!) posturing going on in the US, if the 'fearless leaders' are afraid of the cartels' reactions to closing and securing the borders? I am concerned that a stricter stance at the border will escalate the disgusting violence of these drug cartels against Americans who live in border states.

This is an issue I have not seen discussed, but I wonder if people have considered the repercussions. If these cartels can be so cold-blooded towards their own people, then Canadian and American citizens mean absolutely nothing to them!

My husband and I were carjacked in April on the Cuota 5 km north of Mazatlan...5 armed and masked men forced us off the road. The road had been blocked by a truck in front and behind us. They took us out of our truck with guns to our heads, left us on the side of the road with nothing. Took off with our truck and our 3 precious dogs...such a nightmare. We own property in Mexico and are considering never going back.This happened outside of the main Federale site and when we went to report the incident they did nothing.I guess wrong place, wrong time....they wanted our truck and thank God we let them have it....really, there is nowhere to run.Did not contact the media as we were afraid, these guys have all our personal info.

He was wearing a bullet prof vest one got away also wearing a vest y would they b wearing. Vest on a vacation No one said one got away did they but he did he ran tru the back of the junk yard he is still missing.

Not to speak ill of the dead- but Kenneth Charles Peter Klowak was quite obviously (and obliviously) TOO "happy-go-lucky". If he'd been a more serious person- he'd have know (like I have for about a decade) that Mexico should not be travelled under any circumstances. I've spent over 4 years in Centro America- you could not pay me enough to go there. Safer in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Just so you know, no one in the truck was wearing a bullet proof vest, not that it matters. They were simply visiting the country to go bike riding. I hope that you all enjoy the heartless bastards that you let live amongst you, bunch of cowards!

Ken was expatriated from Canada. He lived in Jamaica and seemed to travel a lot. According to what he posted on his Facebook page, he was due to travel into Mexico on June 8th, then posted later that date that he would be traveling in on June 9th. So whatever or whoever he was waiting for didn't materialize for the trip on the 8th. That was very bad luck. He was near the border at the time of his post, because he named the place. He posted that after Mexico he was heading straight over to Portugal. That "wall" page seems to have been removed from his Facebook in the past day or two, but the Info page is still there. Read fast.

He sounds like a cultured guy who was willing to take more risks than the average person. What happened to him is horrible and I am sure devastating for those who knew him. I am saddened by the violence and the ease at which some people can kill. Best regards to those who knew him.

I'm sorry to hear this news - I am a Canadian living in Juarez. The truth is that the government of Canada, and the media are not reporting the corruption of the government (all levels) and their army/police forces - they spend more time talking about middle east issues but cannot report the reality of this war here!

Bastards wanted the "suburban"... They have been taking SUV's for awhile now. I guess these people were not aware. So when they signaled them to stop they fled. These people are merciless and will execute anyone that defies them. I live on the border and have been here all my life. Right now if you have no business across the border stay away! STAY AWAY AMIGO!!!

Im very sorry for what happened to Ken, and I offer my heart felt sorrow for his family.I feel the same sorrow for all the people in Mexico that have nothing to do with this war as well. I love the country, and miss the great atmosphere that Mexico use to have on my trips there, I can't help and wonder when and what changed in the last ten years to make Mexico what it is today. Was it the great job that the law enforcement in the US did to plug the supply routes from South America to Florida that made Mexico the new supply line? Make no mistake about it, it's the great demand of drugs in the US that has made Mexico what it is today. For all of you that said that the people arrownd the murderer of Mr. Klowak are cowards, I invite you to stare at the wrong end of an AK-47 unarmed in the company of your wife, husband or kids and lets see what you do. What can anyone do?I urge the gorvernments of Mexico and the US to go to the next level on the fight against drugs, I BLAME every drug user for the senseless Killing of Mr. Klowak and every other man , woman and child that has perished because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Where are the UN in this war? We seem to get involved in things all over the world, so why not look at involvement in Mexico? It might also send a strong message to the corrupt police, military and politicians that things are finally going to change.

I highly recommend the book "Drug Lord" that details the corruption thatpervades the Mexican miltary and government, tracing the money all the way up to the brother of the president.I am a Canadian contemplating a move to Monterrey Mexico when my Mexican girlfriend and I are married. I am saddened and a little frightened by all the crime and escalation in recent years, but refuse to let the cartels win.

We all have to be part of the solution. Canada and the US can stimulate change if Mexico is blockaded. Nothing speaks louder to politicians than losing trade. The people of Mexico also need to take a stand and say "ENOUGH!".

As long as they fail to report the kidnappings, robberies and other crimes, they are making the criminals bolder, because there are no consequences for their crimes. Where are the marches against the cartels? Why are the media outlets not splashing this all over the news every day?

We all need to stop burying our heads in the sand and be part of the solution.

I just went 2 months ago to allende coahuila with my family to visit our love ones since we had a year of not going for all whats happening.All I know is we are not going back, all we heard were bad experiences from every one we know and people we used to know some were killed.